The Telugu Desam Party (TDP) has approached the Centre, advocating for age-based regulation of social media. TDP’s Lavu Sri Krishna Devarayalu met Minister of Information and Broadcasting Ashwini Vaishnaw to discuss the need for policy deliberation on this matter. Devarayalu suggested the formation of a dedicated committee to study and propose a national policy on age-based social media regulation.
The TDP MP highlighted the NDA Government in Andhra Pradesh’s active consideration of a legal framework to safeguard children online. He mentioned a Private Member’s Bill he introduced, emphasizing the importance of setting a minimum age for social media access, implementing age-verification mechanisms, and ensuring the deletion of children’s personal data collected during verification.
Devarayalu drew attention to the increasing concerns about children’s safety on social media platforms, citing statistics showing high smartphone and social media usage among Indian children. He pointed out the prevalence of online bullying, exposure to inappropriate content, and the negative impact of excessive social media use on mental health. The MP also referenced tragic incidents in India related to digital addiction and cyberbullying, underscoring the urgent need for regulatory measures.
Several countries, including Australia, Denmark, Malaysia, Norway, the United Kingdom, and New Zealand, have taken steps towards age-based restrictions on social media access for children. Devarayalu highlighted the global trend towards legislative actions to address online safety concerns, emphasizing the inadequacy of relying solely on parental controls.
